Day trip to Calpe

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When I decided that I wanted to study abroad, I knew that I wanted to travel as much as I could during my experience. Fortunately, living in Europe is an ideal place to balance school and travel, thanks to the great public transportation system and endless sightseeing spots that fill the continent. Living in southern Spain, the majority of my day trips have been to mountainous, coastal towns with great views of the Mediterranean Sea. Below are some pictures from my trip to Calpe, Spain, and my hike up the Peñón de Ifach in February!

Standing 332 meters (1,090 feet) tall, this mountain is located right on the coast, with a great view of the city and port of Calpe. A group of students and I decided to make the hike in early February. Only a two-hour tram ride from our university, we were able to make the trip there and back in time for dinner!

After catching our breath from completing the hike, we were astonished to find such beautiful views, like this one, from the summit. We spent around an hour enjoying the view, eating a picnic that we packed, and hanging out with a group of cats that live on the mountain.

My favorite picture from our trip, here you can see the astonishing view of the mountains, city, and blue reefs surrounding Calpe.

After a long morning of hiking, a friend and I stopped for a picture with the beautiful port of Calpe in the background! Although we made the trek in early February, it was actually quite warm after 2 hours of climbing! So, if you ever find yourself about to climb this beautiful face, make sure you are wearing the proper clothes (NOT JEANS!!).

A native of Iowa City, Iowa, Mitch McCarthy is an international studies major at the University of Iowa, spending the semester in Alicante, Spain, on the USAC Alicante program.